Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-12

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'i'"' question and It's possible answers
snyuld nave paused on the unfinished
solume OF the Life of Christ. He has
ue.h man OF the people, Christ
Maio. We remind YOU that,
,houeh the Engiish-speaking race to.
Gay nouns his fall and recog-
hlzeS his loss, Americans feel that
ne has been great leader or
"oNiser IN the guidance Of all man
ner OF substantial interests, though the
Legislature of tie State has paid him
an unusual honor of adiourning as his
night, though the press and divines and
orators of all degrees are trying to com
pass the mighty theme in glowing
WORDS, IN words Of exulting grief that
We have had him with us so long and
nave lost him, yet that as he lies there so
quiet, we may look at him as one who has
heen through all and in all things, an
apostle OF one supreme thought, a preach
or OF the everlasting gospel of the ever
llung Christ. You who knew lbm best -
you who have listened TO him here in
tins church-know we'll that first, last,
and always, in no barren or dreaming
sense, his life has been absorbed in this
work and hid with Christ in God. In
the prayers which he breathed ont here
for forty years so simply You have
been hearing an inner echo, as If it had
come out of the heart of Jesus. In his
ordinary teaching, in lectures and SER
mons, the one thought in them has
been to lead you to believe, not some
thing about Christ, but to believe him
self" n
In closing his sermon DR.. Hall said :
"a brave and weary heart is here at
rest brave Of old TO dare brutal force
and defy the violence of mobs and ruff
fans in speaking for the slave brave
to accept the murmers and doubts of
his political friends when conscience
prompted to part from them bravest
to wrestle along with o great sorrow
when he could find no earthly help
We honor him for the courage, for
his former acts, who love and wonder
at him for the calm, sweet, gentle re-
signation of these last years. God, |
believe, has led him step by step to
spend his last days among us with a
wisdom gained from the Cross-a ten
der, gentle, soberer wisdom which
helped him to see the Captain of our
salvation, who was made perfect
through suffering that We may all be Of
one, and the Great Sufferer not ashamed
to call us brethren"
DR.. Hall pronounced the benediction
and the vast audience slowly filed out of
the church 1t was a notable gather
ing, and one long to be remembered by
those present.
The other churches in which services
were held were all crowded to the utmost
extent of their capacity. Not o vacant
seat, not an unOccupicd foot OF stand
ing room was there in Plymouth church
The surrounding streets III all direc-
tons were crowded with people waiting
patiently for their turn to gaze upon
the face of the dead preacher. 1t is es-
timated that fully twenty-five thousand
people attended services in the various
churches, and fully twice that number
were gathered in the streets in the
neighborhood Of Plymouth church.
During the afternoon the dead pas
tors brother, Edward Beecher, and his
daughter passed in the church and re-
manned some time near the casket
Rev. Samuel b. Willis, who was chap
lain Of the One-Hundred-and- Twenty
seventh regiment of New York during
the war, calledat the church and was adj
mitted at the side entrance. He was post
chaplain at Fort Sumter when the
Union flag was reinstated and when the
late preacher delivered his famous ora
ton. Mr. Willis is some years older
than Mr.. Beecher was, and he came a
long distance to pay the last tribute to
his departed associate of the stormy
scenes of the late war.
At $50 this afternoon the children of
Plymouth School met in the school
room in the rear Of the church, and
were formed in line and marched
through the church. The children Of
the Mayhower School, on Jay street,
and those of Bethel School, on Hicks
street, were also passed through
the church. At the same time the
public had to wait until the children
got through, when the endless stream
began IFS lively gait past the casket.
General King gave some grand selec-
tons on the organ during the afternoon,
and the music was kept up all the time
the people were pressing through the
church. Other organists assisted the
General in keeping up the supply Of
music.
The house at the corner of Hicks and
Clarke streets is still an object of GU
mostly to strangers, and n special po-
liceman is still on duty. Mrs. Beecher
is ENJOYING good health, and is receiy-
ing the visits of her personal friends.
The military will be on duty until 8
O'Clock Saturday. The interment will
be private and at Greenwood Gene
terry.
As night drew on the long line OF
peOple passing into the church began
to wane, and by 10 o'clock there were
not more than a score of people III line.
The doors of the church were closed, and
then the officers who had been on duty
filed past the coffin. The members OF
Company G and a few church mem
bers then passed the bier for last look
at their beloved pastor. The church
was cleared of people and the military
resumed their silent vigil
Mrs. Beecher and family will come
down at 8 o'clock in the morning, and
then the cofiin-hd will be closed and
the body removed to the cemetery. 1t
was noticed tonight that the body had
begun to change. The face was slightly
discolored near the eyes. None but the
family will be present at the private IN
terment.
Captain Eads's Remains.
lBy telegraph to the Di'patchl